Drilling apparatus



May 2l, 1935. A M, c. HUFEMAN 2,001,729

DRILLING APPARATUS Filed June l, 1934 W 5y- 4Q www' Patented May 21,1935 Damme APrARA'rus Mer'vin chester Huffman', claremo'ntfN. asV signorto Sullivan Machinery Company, a oorporation of Massachusetts fApplication June 1, 41934., seriaiNo-t'asi '15 Claims.

u This invention relates to rock drills, and more vparticularly toimprovements in the rotation control means of such drills.

An object of `this invention is to provide anim- `c proved rotationcontrol meansfor a rock drill. Another object is to provide an improveddrill steel rotation mechanism for a rock drill and havingembodiedtherein improved release means for such mechanism. A` further object `is.to provide in a rockv drill of the hammer piston type improved drillsteel rotation mechanism of the intermittent ratchet and pawltypeoperated by the hammer piston of thedrill `and having .embodied thereinimproved releaseV means for 'the drill vmechanism whereby, when desired,rotation of the drill steel may be discontinued while the hammer pistoncontinues to operate. These and other objects and advantages will,however, subsequently more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown for purposes of illustrationoneform which the invention may assume in practice.`

In this drawingz- Y Fig. lis a side elevational View of a stoper rockdrill having embodied therein the illustrative formof the improvedrotation control means.

` Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional viewY taken on line 2 2of Fig.. 2. l

Fig. 3 is acrossv sectional viewtaken on line 3`3 of Fig. 2.v p, Fig. 4is a fragmentary view taken in the plane of Fig. 2 showing the rotationcontrol parts in` a diiferen'tposition.V

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View( taken on line o.; 5`5 of' Fig. 2. l

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention, the improved rotationrelease mechanism is incorporated ina rock drill of the stoper type of awell known design, .generally comprising a hammer motor, generallydesignated Il, and having a cylinder 2 within which ahammer piston 3 ismounted `for reciprocation. vThis hammer-.piston isjprovided in` the`usual manner with a forwardly projecting striking bar 4 adapted tostrike'against the shank of .a drill steel 5 loosely. mounted .in theusual manner within .a chuck mechanism housed within va front chuckhousing 6 attached to .the front end of the motor cylinder. The hammermotor is supported by asuitable feed leg 1 Icomprising a feed cylinder 8attached to therear rend of .the hammer motor .and containing a usualfeed piston .having its feed piston rod .9 terminating inan4 abutmentengaging point l0. The hamniermotor is supported and fed by meansof thisfeed leg and is held in position by .a usual .sup-

`hammer piston is transmitted to the drill steel (ci. 121-7)j M portinghandle ilextending laterally from the drill. .Thegrasping portion ofthissupporting handle may be grasped by the voperator `to support thedrill and hold the drill against rotation about -its longitudinal axis`in a manner` well understood 5 inthe art. Fluid-'under pressure issupplied to the hammer motor l .and .thefeedleg l through usual supply`passages under` thecontrol of a usual .throttle valve I2 havinganoperating handle i3.

The rotation mechanism for effecting rotation of the drill :steel 5 asitis percussively actuated by the piston 3is herein of `a well knownconstruction and comprises an .oscillatory pawl car- .rier Y.I5'carrying usual springpressed pawls |6 engageable with the .te'ethll ofa'ratchet ring 118. Thisgratchet isherein arrangedwithin a rear headmember I 9` interposed between the rear motor head and feed leg and isherein guided for mcniement ngially .of-.the drill ina Abore 2U formedinthe head member l 9. v Formed integral with the pawl` carrier andextending forwardly within the hammer piston is a'rie bar 2i having.spiralgrooves-engageable with spiral lugs formed on arie nut .22secured Within the rear end `of the hammer piston as shown in Fig. 2.`The y Yratc'helgring is held against rotation by means of lug-likeprojections or keys 23 formed on its periphery and lengaginglongitudinal grooves Vor rkeyeways v24 formed by projections from thewalls of the bore lwithin which the ratchet ring is axially guided. Aslthe hammer piston moves forwardly, the pawls iG'slip over Athe teeth ofthe ratchet ring to permit unimpeded forward move- :ment ofv the `hammerpiston to effect its working stroke, and upon reverse movement of theham- .mer -pistonthepawlsengagethe ratchet teeth, thereby holding thebar 2l against rotation, and

`as a result causing rotative movement ofthe hammer piston. This`rotative movement of the chuck mechanism through straight grooves 25 vformed on the piston striking bar 4 and engaging straightlugs formedwithin the usual chuck nut of the chuck mechanism. As the particulardrill motor construction and steel rotation mechanism `are of a standarddesign, and as the particular fluid supply means for the motor andfeed'leg are well known and do'not specifically enter into theinvention, further description of the same is considered unnecessary.For details `of the 50 motor of this type reference may be had,if-desired, tothe patent to Gartin No. 1,929,420 grantlThe throttlevalve I2 is provided with a port 36 communicable with a passage 31communicating with a chamber 38, while formed in the .rear4 motor headis a chamber 39 communicating through a passage 49 with ythe fluiddistributing means of the hammer motor. Communicating with the bore 29at the rear side of the piston 39 f is a passage 4I communicable througha groove 42 formed on the throttle valve'with a ventpassage 43. When theratchet ring and piston are in the position shown in Fig. 4, the pawlsI6 engage the teeth' I1 of the ratchet ring and the rotation mechanismoperates in a normal manner. If it is desired torelease the mechanism,for instance when the vdrill steel sticks orl during spotting of a hole,this may be accomplished by rotating the throttle valve I2 to theposition shown in Fig. 2, thereby supplying live pressure fluid throughlthe passage 4I to the rear pressure area on the piston 30. The pressurefluid flowing from the chamber 39 to the motor distribution means causesthe pressure fluid in chamber 39 to assume a pressure substantiallylower than in the chamber 38, and as a result the pressure acting on therear pressure area of the piston 39 and on the rear pressure area on theprojection 3| causes the ratchet ring to be shifted axially from theposition shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 2. As the ratchetring moves axially inwardly, the cam surface 35 on thev iiange 34engages the lower edges of the pawls I6 throwing the latter inwardlyinto their released position out of engagement with the ratchet teeth ofthe ratchet ring. It will-thus be seen that the pawls at that time areentirely released from the ratchet ring and that the pawl carrierl is atthat time free to oscillate, andas a result the rotation of the drillsteel is interrupted. When the throttle valve I2 is rotated to theposition shown in Fig. 4, the pressure Aarea on the rear side of thepiston 30 is connected to exhaust, and as a result the pressure inchamber 39 acting on the inner pressure area `of the ratchet ringlcauses the latter to move inwardly vto its normal position as shown inFig. 4, and

asa result rotation of the drill steel is resumed. As a result of thisinvention it will be noted that there is provided an extremely simpleand convenient mechanism for controlling the rotation of the drill steelof a rock drill, it being possible entirely to interrupt rotation atwill. It will further be noted that the mechanism is free from anycomplicated operating or ad' `described one form which the invention mayassume inpractice, it willl be understood that this form of the same isshown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modied'and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spiritor the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rock drill, drill steel rotation mechanism including relativelyrotatable ratchet and pawl carrier elements, operative connectionsbetween one of the same and a drill steel to be rotated, means forholding the other element against rotation, means for moving said latterelement axially, and means movable axially with said latter element toeffect engagement and release of the pawls of the pawl carrier elementfrom the ratchet.

2. In a rock drill, drill steel rotation mechanism including relativelyrotatable ratchet and pawl carrier elements, operative connectionsbetween one of the same and a drill steel to be rotated, means forholding the other element against rotation, means actuated by fluidpressure for moving said latter element axially, and means movableaxially with said latter element to eiect engagement and release of thepawls of said pawl carrier element from the ratchet.

3. In a rock drill, drill steel rotation mechanism including relativelyrotatable ratchet and lpawl carrier elements, operative connectionsbement' being moved in the opposite direction invto its rotationeffecting position also by means of fluid pressure.

4. Inl a rock drill, drill steel rotation mechanism including anoscillatory pawl carrier and a cooperating ratchet ring, keys on saidratchet ring engageable with keyways on the drill to hold said ratchetring against rotation, means for eiecting axial movement of said ratchetring, and pawl release means movable axially with said ratchet ring toeffect release of the pawls from the ratchet teeth while said keysremain in interlocking engagement with said keyways.

5. In a rock drill, drill steel rotation mechanism including anoscillatory pawl carrier and a cooperating ratchet ring, keys on saidratchet ring engageable with keyways on the drill to hold said ratchetring against rotation, means for effecting axial movement of saidratchet ring, pawl engaging and releasing means movable axially withsaid ratchet ring into pawl engaging and releasing position to releaseentirely the pawls from the teeth of said ratchet ring while said keysremain in interlocking engagement with sai-d keyways, and means foractuating said yratchet, ring moving means in one direction by fluidpressure.

6. In a rock drill, drill steel rotation mechanism including anoscillatory pawl carrier and a cooperating ratchet ring, keys on saidratchet ring cooperating with keyways on the drill to hold said ratchetring against rotation, means for effecting axial movement of saidratchet ring, pawl engaging and releasing means movable axially withsaid ratchet ring into pawl engaging and releasing position to releaseentirely the pawls from the teeth of said ratchet ring, and

ymeans for actuating said ratchet ring moving means in either directionby fluid pressure.

7. In a rock drill, drill steel rotation mechanism including anoscillatory pawl carrier and a cooperating ratchet ring, keys on saidratchet ring engageable with keyways on the drill to hold said ratchetring against rotation, means for guiding said ratchet ring for axialmovement, pawl engaging and releasing means movable axially with saidratchet ring into pawl engaging and releasing v position to releaseentirely the pawls from the teeth of said ratchet ring, and means foractuating said ratchet ring in one direction by fluid pressure,including a piston secured to said ratchet ring and means for supplyingiuid pressure to act on said piston.

8. In a rock drill, drill steel rotation mechanism including anoscillatory pawl carrier and a cooperating ratchet ring, keys on saidratchet ring engageable With lceyways on the drill to hold said ratchetring against rotation, means for guiding said ratchet ring for axialmovement, pawl engaging and releasing means movable axially with saidratchet ring into pawl engaging and releasing position to releaseentirely the pawls from engagement with the teeth of said ratchet ring,and means for actuating said ratchet ring in either direction by fluidpressureincluding a piston secured to said ratchet ring and means forsupplying fluid pressure to act on said piston.

9. In a rock drill, drill steel rotation means including an oscillatorypawl carrier and a cooperating ratchet ring, operative connectionsbetween the pawl carrier and a drill steel to be rotated, means forholding said ratchet ring against rotation including members formed onsaid ratchet ring having interlocking engagement `With members formed ona relatively stationary part of the drill, means for effecting axialmovement of said ratchet ring, and means movable axially With saidratchet ring for engaging the pawls of said pawl carrier for releasingthe pawls entirely from the teeth of the ratchet ring.

10. In a rock drill, drill steel rotation means including an oscillatorypawl. carrier and a cooperating ratchet ring, operative connectionsbetween the pawl carrier and a drill steel to be ro-v tated, means forholding said ratchet ring against rotation including members formed onsaid ratchet ring having interlocking engagement with members formed ona relatively stationary part of the drill, means for effecting axialmovement of said ratchet ring, and means movable axially with saidratchet ring for engaging the pawls of said pawl carrier for releasingthe pawls entirely from the teeth of the ratchet ring, said ratchet ringbeing movable axially intoI pawl releasing position while saidinterlocking members remain in interlocking engagement.

11. In a rock drill, drill steel rotation means including an oscillatorypawl carrier and a cooperating ratchet ring, operative connectionsbetween the pawl carrier and a drill steel to be rotated, means forholding the ratchet ring against rotation including members formed onthe ratchet ring having interlocking engagement with members on arelatively stationary part of the drill, means for axially moving saidratchet ring, and pawl release means movable axially with said ratchetring for effecting release of the pawls of the pawl carrier from theteeth of the ratchet ring, said ratchet ring being movable axially tomove said release means intoits pawl releasing position While saidinterlocking members remain in interlocking engagement.

12. In a rock drill, drill steel rotation means from engagement Vwiththe ratchet teeth, and

means for moving saidrratchet element axially.

13. In a rock drill, drill steel rotation means including relativelyrotatable ratchet andpawl carrier elements, the ratchet element havingratchet teeth with which the pawls of said pawl carrier elementcooperate, means for holding said ratchet element against rotation andfor guiding said ratchet element for axial movement, pawl release meansmovable axially with said ratchet element and engaging with the pawls ofsaid pawl carrier element for entirely releasing the pawls fromengagement with the ratchet teeth, and means actuated by fluid pressurefor moving said ratchet element axially.

14. In a rock drill, drill steel rotation mechanism including relativelyrotatable ratchet and pawl carrier elements, the ratchet element havingratchet teeth with which the pawls of the pawl carrier element areadapted to cooperate and movable into rotation permitting and rotationinterrupting positions, meansfor interlockingsaid ratchet element with arelatively stationary part of the drill for holding said ratchet elementagainst rotation when in either of its respective rotation permitting orinterrupting positions, with respect tothe pawl carrier element, meansfor axially guiding said ratchet element during movement thereof intoits different operative positions aforesaid, means movable axially withsaid ratchet element and engageable with the pawls of said pawl carrierelement in one 0fsaid positions but not the other for entirely releasingthe pawls from the ratchet teeth, and means for effecting relative axialmovement between said elements.

15. In a rock drill, drill steel rotation mechanism including anoscillatory pawl carrier member and a cooperating ratchet ring, means onthe ratchet ring engageable with means on the drill for holding theratchet ring stationary as regards rotation While permitting axialmovement of the ratchet ring, means for effecting axial movement of theratchet ring, and pawl release means movable axially with said ratchetring into a position to effect complete release of the pawls from theratchet teeth While said holding means on the ratchet ring remain inengagement` With the hold ing means of the drill.

MERVIN CHESTER HUFFMAN.

